Wire-cutting machine.



No. 825,942. PATENTBD JULY 1'7, 1906. S. P. SMURR & J. I. KAMBN.

WIRE CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED 00T.23, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTBD JULY I7, 19,06.

S. P. SMURR & J. F. KAMEN.

WIRE CUTTING MACHINE.' MPLIGATION FILED 00T.2a, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

SAMUEL P. SMURR ANI) JOHN F.

KAMEN, OF IHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

WIRE-CUTTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented .my i7, 1906.

Application filed October 23, 1905. Serial No. 284.012.

To ILZ, whom, it 11m/y concern.:

Be it known that we, SAMUEL I. SMURR and JOHN F. KAMEN, citizens of the United States, and residents of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire-Cutting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to Wire-cuttlng machines, and relates particularly to machines for cutting wire delivered thereto in the form of a continuous strand, as from a coil, into sections or pieces of desired length.

Among the objects of our invention are to provide a machine .for this purpose which will be accurate v in its operation, cutting the strand of wire into pieces of uniform length, andl to provide a machine in which the cuttingwheels are driven directly through the medium of suitable gearing during the cutting operation and which can be quickly and conveniently set or adjusted for cutting pieces of different lengths.

To this end a machine of our invention consists of the various features, combinations of features, and details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

Our improved wire-cutter is commonly used in connection with other wire-working devices, and in the accompanyingv drawings we have shown the same in connection with a device for crimping wire to be used in making 'woven wire, such as is commonly used for making elevated inclosures, partitions, skylight and shaft guards, and for other similar purposes.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is aside view of a wire-cutter of our invention shown in connection with a wire-crimping machine. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the clutch-engaging cam members.

Referring now to the drawings, A designates the frame of the machine, and 1 and 2 shafts revolubly mounted therein, to which the crimping-rolls 3 and 4 are rigidly secured. Rotation is imparted to the crimping-wheel shafts 1 and 2 from a main driving-shaft 5, which is driven from any suitable source of power (not shown) by means of a belt applied to a pulley 6 on said shaft. To provide for stopping the machine quickly, the shaft 5 is driven through the medium of a clutch, com prising clutch-teeth 7 on the hub of the driving-pulley 6 and corresponding clutch-teeth 8 on a sleeve 9, splined to the driving-shaft 5. Engagement and disengagement of the clutch-teeth 8 and 9 are effected by means of a pivoted lever 10, ins 1l secured 1n which engage a periphera groove 12 in the collar 9.4

The crimping-roll shaft 1 is 'driven directly from the driving-shaft 5 by means of a pinion 13 on the driving-shaft, which engages a gear 14, secured to said crim ing-roll shaft. The crimping-roll shaft 2 is riven from the shaft 1 by means of gears 15 and 16 thereon. The wire to be crimped is delivered to the crimping-rolls 3 and 4 through a suitable guide, (indicated at 17,) the crimping-rolls 3 and 4 themselves operating as a feed device to deliver the wire to the machine. foregoing parts are old and well known in the art and are shown merely as illustrating a concrete application of ourcutting device, which will now be described.

Revolubly mounted in the machine-frame at a suitable distance from the crimping-roll shafts 1 and 2 are shafts 18 and 19, to which the cutting-wheels 20 and 21 are rigidly secured. As shown, the cutting-wheels 20 and 21 a1 e of the common type, consisting ol solid disks with inserted tool-steel cutters 22 and 23, the relation being such that as said wheels 20 and 21 rotate the cutters 22 and 23 in passing each other will operate to shear oif the Wire passing between said cutting-wheels. The cutting-wheel shafts are maintained in desired relation7 and the rotation of either is imparted to the other by means of gears 24 and 25 secured thereto. Intermittent rotation is imparted to the cutter-wheel shafts 18 and 19 y means of a suitable clutch comprising a clutch member rigidly secured to one of said cutter-shafts, as shown to the shaft 18, and a cooperating clutch member mounted to rotate freely on said shaft, which is positively drivn by means of suitable connection with the driving-shaft 5 of the machine. As shown, the fixed clutch member consists of the gear 24, and the loose clutch member consists of a ge'ar 26, which isvv driven directly from the lower crimping-Wheel shaft 1 through the medium of an intermediate idle gear 27, mounted on a shaft secured against rotation in suit- All of the able bearings in the machine-frame. As l shown, said clutch consists of corresponding clutch-teeth 28 and 29 on the adjacent faces of the gears 24 and 26. With the described construction it is obvious that when the clutch-teeth 28 and 29 are in engagement both ofthe cutter-wheel shafts 18 and 19 will be positively rotated.

The clutch-teeth 28 and 29 are maintained normally disengaged by means of a spring 30, inserted between opposed faces of the gears 24 and 26, and intermittent en agement of said clutch-teeth against the lorce of the spring 3() is effected by suitable means, as follows: Loosely mounted on the shaft 18, between a hub 31 on the clutch-gear 26 and the bearingfor said shaft inthe machine-frame,is a gear 32, formed on the side of which 'adjacent to the shaft-bearingr are cam-surfaces comprising corresponding high and low sections 33 and 34, between which are inclined sections 35, and secured to the shaft bearing or housing is a corresponding cam 36, comprisln similar high and low sections 37 and 38 an inclined connecting-surfaces 39, the raised sections of the cam on the gear 32 being fitted to the recessed or depressed sections of the cam 36, and vice versa, the relation being such that when the raised sections of the cam on the gear 32 bear upon the raised sections of the cam 36 said gear 32 will force the clutch-gear 26 lengthwise of the shaft 18 to 3o effect engagement of the clutch-teeth 2 9 on said gear with the clutch-teeth 28 on the gear 24 and such also that when the raised sections of said cams are in engagement with the recessed or depressed sections of the other the clutch-gear 26 will'be moved len hwise of the shaft by the spring 30 a sufliclent distance to disengage the clutch-teethv 29 from the clutch-teeth 28. It is also obvious that engagement of the raised sections of of the other Will operate to lock the shafts 18 and 19 and thus the cutter-wheels 20 and 21,

against rotation and will maintain them in fixed position between intermittent rotary actuatlons thereof. Y

As shown, both the camon the gear 32 and the cam 36 comprise two raised and two 'recessed sections of equal length arranged alternately, the inc ed connecting-surfaces extending substantially at angles of fortyfive degrees to the lanes of said high andv er Words, each section low portions. In ot quadrant. With this of said cam forms a construction it is obvious that disengagementof the raised sections of one cam with the depressed sections of the other and their en agement with the other depressed'sections t ereof will be effected by one-half of a revolution of the cutter-shafts. This relation is due to the fact that two sets of cutters 22 and 23 are used. If, however, it is desired to use a greater or smaller number of cutters, this can be effected by correspondingly increasing or decreasing the number of raised and depressed sections on said cams.` Rotationis each of said cams with the depressed sections ,'limparted to the gear 32 to effect disengagement of the raised sections of said cams w1th the depressed sections of the other and to bring the raised sections of said cams into engagement with each other, and thus effect 7o engagement of the clutch-teeth 28 and 29 in j the following manner: Secured to the sleeve or hub 31 on the gear 26 is a sprocket-Wheel v 40, to which is adjusted a chain belt 41, which also passes over.an idle sprocket 42, revolubly mounted in suitable bearings in a slide 43,supported on a rod'or bar 44,!so as to be adjustable toward and from the machine and adapted to be secured in any desired adjustment by means of a set-screw 45. With the construction described the sprocket- Wheel 40 andchain belt 41 will be driven continuously *with the clutch-gear 26 through the medium of the idle gear 27, which puts said gear in train with the gear on the crimpin -roll shaft 1, as heretofore described.

ormed-on the chain belt 41 is a trip or tappet 46, which is adapted to engage lugs or projections 47 on an escapement-Wheel 48, secured torotate with the shaft 19, and rotation of said shaft 19 b engagement of the trip or tappet 46 with a Yug 47 is transmitted to the cam-gear 32 by a gear 49, secured to rotate with the shaft 19 and which meshes with said cam-gear 32, the relation bein such that saidcam-gear 32 will be rotated in this manner a sufficient distance to move Said cam-gear32 lengthwise of the shaft 18 a sufiicient distance to effect engagement of the clutch-teeth 28 and 29. With the described construction it is obvious that as soon as enagement of the clutch-teeth 28 and 29 is efected both shafts 18 and 19 Will be ositively rotated throu h one-half of a revollution, or until the raise sections of the cams pass into engagement with the succeeding depressed sections of the other, whereupon the sprin 30 will at once o erate to disengage sai clutch-teeth 28 and) 29 and to effect engagement of the raised sections of said cams with no the depressed sections of the other, thereby locking both cutter-Wheel shafts against rotation until the next engagement of the trip 0r tappet 46 with a lug or rejection 47 on the escapement 48, When t e same cycle of115 operations Will be repeated.

The relation and adjustment of the cutters 22 and 23 relatively to the cams which control the clutch-teeth 28 and 29 is such that the cutting operation will not take place 12o until said clutch-teeth are in full engagement, so that at the time the Wire is cut said cutter-Wheels will be rotating positively by directdriving connection with the crimpingroll shaft 1. In this manner it is obvious 1-25 that the chain belt 41 will be subjected to no duty other than that required to effect rotation and endwise movement of the cam-gear 32 against the force of the spring 30 to bring the raised sections of the cam thereon into 13o ioo shame engagement with lthe raised sections of the cam 36, and thus to throw the clutch-teeth 2% and 29 into engagement. v

As shown, the chain belt 41'i's provided with but a single trip or tappet 46. Obviously, however, more than one tri or tap pet may be provided, if desired. .Vl ien but a single trip or tappet is used, it isobvious that the lengths of the pieces into which tue strand of wire is cut will be exactly equal to the length of the chain belt 41 and that the machine can be quickly and conveniently adjusted to cut pieces of different length by increasing or decreasing the length of the chain belt 41 by inserting or removing a suitable number of links thereof. As the length of the chain belt 41 is increased or decreased the position of the slide 43 will beadjnsted to bring the idle sprocket 42 into proper position.

When more than one trip or tappet 46 is used, the lengths of the pieces of wire will be equal-to the distances between said trips or tappets.

To allow the shaft 18 to adjust itself to slight lack of uniformity between the inclined sections of the clutch-teeth 28 and 29 and the inclined sections 35 and 39 of the cam on the gear 32 and the cam 36, rovision is made for the shaft 18 to yiel endwise slightly. As shown, this is effected by means of a spring 50, inserted between the outer side of the shaft-bearing in the frame, and a collar 51, secured to said shaft outside of the frame. Said spring 50 will preferably be slightly stronger than the spring 30 for disengaging the clutch-teeth 28 and 29, and

normally said shaft is held against longitudinal movement under the inuence of said spring by a collar 52, secured to the opposite end of said shaft and which bears against the outer side of the opposite bearing for said shaft. To provide for adjusting the tension of said s ring 50, the sleeve 51 is.made to project s ightly beyond the end of the shaft 18 and bearsagainst a disk or washer 53, secured in osition by means of a screw 54, threaded into the end of the shaft 18. Obviously by screwing up or unscrewing the screw 54 the spring 50 will either be compressed or allowed to expand, thus correspondingly increasing or decreasing the tension thereof in the manner desired.

We claim as our invention- 1. In a wire-cutting machine, the combination of cutters, shafts on which said cutters are secured, means for rotating said cutter-shafts, said means comprising a clutch, means for effecting engagement of said clutch controlled by means comprising arevoluble member, a rejection thereon, a driven chain belt, an a trip or tappet thereon adapted to engage thevprojection on said revoluble member, and means to disengage said clutch.

2. In a wire-cutting machine, the combination of cutters, shafts on which said cutters are securedra clutch applied to one of said shafts comprising a member loose on said shaft, means for driving said loose clutch member, means for effecting engagement of said clutch controlled by means comprising a revoluble member, a projection thereon, a driven chain belt and a trip or tappet thereon adapted to engage the projection on said revoluble. member, and means to disengage said clutch.

3. In a wire-cutting machine, the combination of cutters, shafts on which said cutters are secured, means for rotating said cutter-shafts, said means comprising a clutch, a cam for effecting engagement of said clutch, and means for actuating said cam, said means comprising a revoluble member, a projection thereon, a driven chain belt, and a trip or tappet thereon adapted to engage the projection on said revoluble member, and means to disengage said clutch.

4. In a wire-cutting machine, the combination of cutters, shafts on which said cutlters are secured, means for rotating said cutter-shafts, said means comprising a clutch, means for effecting engagement of said clutch, said means comprising a stationary cam member and a movable cam member comprising corresponding raised and depressed sections .and intermediate inclined sections, the raised sections of said cam members fitting the depressed sections of the other, means to aetuate said movable cam member to effect engagement of the raised sections of said members, said means comprising a revoluble member, a projection thereon, a driven chain belt, a trip or tappet thereon adapted to engage tne projection on said revoluble member, and driving connection between said revoluble member and said movable cam member, anda s ring adapted to maintain said clutch norma y disengaged and the raised sections of said cam members normally in engagement with the depressed sections of the other.

5. In a wire-cuttin machine, the combination of cutters, shaifts on which said cutters are secured, driving connection between said shafts, a clutch applied to .one of said shafts comprising a member mounted to rotate freely thereon, means for driving said loose clutch member, a clutch-engaging cam, comprising ber movable lengthwise of said shaft, driving connections between said movable cam member and the cutter-shaft other than that to which said clutch is applied, a projection on said shaft, a sprocket-wheel secured to rotate with saidv loose clutch member, a chain belt adjusted to said sprocket-wheel, a trip or tappet on said chain belt adapted to engage sai projection on the other shaft, the relation belng such that through its driving cona stationary member and a mem-V IIO nection with the movable cam member, rotation of said cutter-shaft by said trip or tappet will move said 'movable cam member-[a sufficient distance to effect engagement of the clutch applied to drive the cutter-shafts, and means to disengage said clutch. I

6. In a Wire-cutting machineLthe combination of cutters, shafts on Which said cutters are secured, driving connection between said shafts, a clutch applied to one. of said shafts comprising a member mounted to rotate freely thereon, means for drivingfsaid loose clutch member, a clutchengaging cam, comprising a stationary member and aimember movable lengthwise of'said shaft, driving connection between said movable cam memberand the cutte -shat other than that to which said clutch is applied, a projection on said shaft, a sprocket-wheel secured to rotate with said loose clutch member, a chain belt adjusted to said. sprocket-wheel, a" trip or tappet on said chain belt adapted to engage said projection on the'other shaft, the relation being such that through its driving connectionwith the movable cam cutter-s afts against rotary movement when 'said clutch'is disengaged.

7. Ina wire-cutting machine, the combinationof cutters, shafts on which said cutters are secured, driving connection between saidy shafts, a clutch applied to one of said shafts comprising a member mounted to rotate freelyon saidshaft, means for driving said loose clutch member movable lengthwise of the shaft to which said clutch is applied, said cam members comprising corresponding raised and depressed sections and intermediate inclined member rotationl ofsaidcutter-shaft bysaid trip or tappetv member, a clutchfengaging camcomprising a stationary member and a sections, and the relation being such that the raised sections of each of said cams will t the depressed sections of the other, driving connection between said movable cam member and the cutter-shaftv other than that to whichsaid clutch is ap lied, a proectionon said shaft, a sprocket-wliieel-secure to rotate vwith said loose clutch member, a chain belt adjusted to said sprocket-wheel, a trip or tappet on said chain belt adaptedto engage the projection on the other shaft, the relation being such that through its driving connection with the movable cam member rotation of said cutter-shaft by said trip or tappet will move said movable cam member a suiiici'ent distance to effect engagement of the clutch applied to saidcutter-shaft, and a spring inserted between said clutch members adapted to maintain the same normally disengaged and the raised sections of each ofl said clutch-actuating cam members normally in' engagement with the depressed sections of the other.

8. In a Wire-cutting machine, the ,combi-f nation of cutters, shafts on which said-cutters are secured, means for rotating 'said 'cutter-shafts comprising a clutch applied to one of said shafts, positive means for effecting engagement of said clutch, to said shaft to provide for endwise movement thereof under the iniluence of'said clutch-operating means, to compensate for dierences between the inclination ofthe clutch-engaging cam and the clutch-teeth.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our invention we aflx our signatures, in presence lof two subscribing witnesses, this 20th day of October, A. D. 1905.

SAMUEL P. SMURR. JOHN F. -KAMEN.

Witnesses:

CHARLES B.-GILLsoN, E. M. KLATCHER.

and-a spring applied 

